"Nobody, as long as he or she moves among the
chaotic currents of life, is without trouble."
- Carl Jung
There are times when all of us can benefit from talking to someone who is compassionate and non-judgmental, who can be objective because their life is not intertwined with our own. Perhaps you are going through an unusually demanding or stressful period. Maybe some specific event has caused you to feel confused, anxious or depressed. Perhaps you have been struggling with a recurring problem for so long that you just can’t bear it anymore.
It’s not unusual for our coping mechanisms to stop working effectively. And at such times we may find ourselves unable to escape painful thoughts and unhelpful patterns of behaviour.
The therapeutic relationship provides the opportunity to explore and understand how our attempts to avoid hurtful memories and damaging experiences can sometimes trap us inside them.
Therapeutic conversations can create a deeper self-awareness and understanding of how and why you have reached this point in your life. In a safe space, these conversations can reveal a new way of seeing yourself and help you discover the inner resources that will lead to greater freedom of thought and behaviour. Such insights are liberating and will empower you to make more meaningful choices and pursue the life you want to lead - a life that is more fulfilling and nurturing.
If this is what you would like to achieve, I would love to help.
I believe the best therapy is collaborative. Therapist and client work together to develop a relationship of mutual trust and respect that provides a safe, confidential and non-judgmental environment.
My style of working is conversational. Anything can be discussed – I have no fixed agenda. We will discuss whatever feels most important to you on the days we are together.
My role is not to tell you what to do or make decisions for you. My role is to guide our conversations so that you will begin to recognise the patterns of behaviour that create or perpetuate your struggles. In so doing, we can help you make the choices that are right for you and build the confidence you’ll need to put these decisions into practice.
I hold degrees in Anthropology and Social Psychology and have spent many years travelling and exploring the different ways that people live and interact with one another. After settling in Australia and having a family, I studied at the Jansen Newman Institute and received my Masters in Applied Psychotherapy and Counselling. I now work from my practice at home on Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches.
Although I’ve trained in different methodologies (including Psychodynamic, Narrative, Existential, CBT, Family Systems, Gestalt, Jungian and Couples Therapy) and have a solid theoretical base from which to work, I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Just as each person who enters my room is unique, my approach to each client is unique and based on what we both decide will work best for you.
Before we meet, you might like to consider some of these questions as a way of preparing yourself for our first conversation.
Has something happened that has prompted you to seek help now? If you have been dealing with a long-term problem, has something changed in you or in your world that creates a sense of urgency in dealing with the issue?
Particularly if you haven’t tried therapy before, what images come to mind when you think of it? Do you have any ideas as to what this process will be like and how it will make you feel? Do you have any fears that may inhibit you from opening yourself up to this experience?
Numerous studies have shown that it is the therapeutic ‘relationship’ rather than any ‘ techniques' used in therapy that is critical to a successful outcome. I believe in trusting your instincts. If you feel the potential for an empathic connection, move forward. If you feel judged, unheard, or uncomfortable, keep looking!
It’s important to remember that good therapy may not always feel comfortable. That’s not the way to judge it. The most important criteria is that you and your therapist have created a relationship that leaves you feeling supported and safe while discussing the things that make you feel uncomfortable.
It can be helpful to have an idea of where you would like to be in 3, 6 or 12 months from when you start. How might your life be different? But remember, your goals may change during therapy. A successful outcome depends on being mindful of those changes and ensuring you stay focused on what you want to achieve.
Therapy is a relationship that starts with an end in mind. You and your therapist will work together to ensure that the relationship ends when you feel empowered to continue on your own.
$100 - $130 per hourly session.
Concessions available, please ask.
My first session is free and lasts for 45 minutes. This is an opportunity for us to get to know each other, to discuss your needs and expectations and gain a sense of how we can best work together. There is no commitment to pursuing therapy at this stage.
I make every effort to accommodate my clients’ differing schedules. However, unless there are unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice will incur the full fee for that session.
Everything said to me during therapy remains absolutely confidential. The only possible exception to this rule is if I think a client is a danger to himself, herself or others. In such a case, I have a duty of care to alert a relevant authority. But I would never do this without discussing the matter fully with my client and involving him or her in whatever action I felt was necessary or unavoidable.
0419 995 447
juliasouter@mac.com
My practice is in Avalon, NSW